Kori Paintings Native American Painter Potter Educator

All of these paintings are primarily watercolor paintings, pure style, which means that the whites are the white of the paper, not always an easy trick. Now and then I have used the British style of watercolors, called ‘body paints’, where I feel that the painting can be enhanced in the message by painting lighter images over top of darker ones, so then I will call them ‘mixed media’ paintings. But these are the only two styles of paint I use in my watercolor paintings, and although I usually do them in the ‘square’ format, that is also going to be changing - I have found round paper. I love painting in the round, representing the eternity of life.

These are also what I call ‘story-paintings’ or prints. This painting was created with the purpose of telling some of the traditional stories that the artist grew up with, of the Navajo and other Indigenous peoples who have walk this earth. For too long others have told our stories, with no understanding and no hearing of the real purpose for our oral traditions. To the best of my ability, I check these out with elders before I use them, but the visual stories are in my own head, they just must come out in this form. I started writing up the stories about them, because I am also a teacher, and come from a long line of story-tellers. My stories just happen to be visual ones. They make me happy, to remember and then to see them on papers. Many times I see them in my sleep in dreams before I paint them. Sometimes in the morning, the dreams have been so clear, I am surprised that they are not already on the paper.

Wonderful mystical things happen all the time and we need to never let our “logic” get in the way when the Holy People are at work for us in our lives. All of the symbols in this painting work together for this purpose. and takes our hearts to a higher plane where we can rejoice as is our purpose as humans- to have joy. There is no such thing as “coincidences. It is my prayer that this painting may remind you to not have worry and fear, to be happier, joyous and free. There are many positive forces at work for you all the time.

While Kori has for years been opposed to duplication of her paintings, she was finally convinced that these would be more affordable for those who need to learn from them that prints would be good. So there are a limited amount of these prints being done. There are only 500 prints ever done of any one painting. So your print will have a number on it. Although the method of doing these prints has changed from the past, the artist still feels it is important to number the amount of prints that are allowed, and keeps the value intact of each individual one. The front is numbered for you.

Our lives are not just about getting on with life, but also about having a life of an inner peace and joy and living in harmony with the world around us. I have discovered that when one has true freedom of spirit, they can reach out and help others, from a richness that flows from within because of the willingness to let go and turn over all burdens and one’s life to the loving ever-present Higher Power of your choice. For me this is what I call my Mother the Earth, my Father the Sky, and all of the Holy People who give me better things and a way of life then I even know how to ask for. For them, these paintings and prints came out, to share with others what my Journey so far has taught me and to help you with yours.

Ahe’ He’ (Thank you!)